Tuesday, October 16, 2012

As most of you know, October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS month...Each year I donate a portion of my Etsy shop sales to a wonderful foundation called Pink Ribbon Girls...Please check out their website for more information...

This month I am donating 10% of ALL my Etsy shop sales to the cause, not just "pink" items as I've done in the past...So please stop by Dorset Hill Beads, look around and purchase one of my unique shop items...If you don't see something to purchase (i can't imagine you won't) please go to Pink Ribbon Girls and make a small donation to the cause...

Friday, October 12, 2012

well, not sure how "fun" it is but it is FRIDAY! i hope to see my red head friend this weekend...knitting and chatting and sharing is the best time with my red head friend...dear to my heart, right from the start, my red head friend will remain till the end...

Thursday, September 27, 2012

I have never ever considered myself an "artist"...I tried many times to paint, draw or whatever "i" thought was ART as a child growing up...my mom even made me take "art lessons" way back when...i never liked it and never thought i was good at it...afterall, i had cousins that were extremely talented artists in music and art and therefore i never felt i was good enough or "as good as them"...to overcome this sense of failure in being an artist i went the way of crafts...i love working and creating with my hands and thus i played with yarn, knitting, crocheting, beading, making jewelry to melting glass and making lampwork beads...my first acknowlegement of being an artist...a glass artist or lampwork artist...oh how i love to melt glass and create beautiful little treasures of glass and then creating them into something wearable...or...seeing what others create with my little reflections of playful beads creating with hot flowing glass...

Long story short...over the last 2 years that my glass studio is no long available to me, i've been dabbling in many different artsy craftsy areas that i have always loved creating...i enjoy working with paper, fabric and yes even still love to knit and crochet...i must have my hands busy creating something...that's just who i am...it makes me - ME...it keeps me grounded...it helps keep me sane in a sometimes insane world...it soothes my soul and makes my heart happy...

Point of the title...Breaking Through...Recently i have let the gates down in my mind about being an artist and have decided to pull out the paints and pencils and start what you all call an art journal...my creativity is going wild and i just love it...i get so excited when i can actuall DRAW something that looks half way decent (i think) or even create a painting using all kinds of elements (mixed media i believe it is called)...so i have BROKEN THROUGH this barrier of not letting myself believe i can create "art" and am now slowly letting my creative juices flow in many new directions...

i'm sharing this little pencil drawing i did on my train ride home the other day...something about her makes me happy...

Monday, September 24, 2012

On any given Monday I will post a picture or quote that provokes some sort of thought or meditation for myself and I hope as well for my readers...Today I am asking for your comments, input and suggestions...It's called ORGANIZATION which I have very little of in my craft, computer and guest room...I won't touch on the other areas of my world that might be disorganized at this time...My focus for the time being is my creative space, little that it is, approximately 9.5 x 14...Not too shabby but definitely messy...I would like to create 3 areas to create, 1) jewelry creation, 2) paper crafting and 3) paint dabbling...

Here is a panoramic view (new download on phone) of my space...If you have any ideas or suggestions or think it's fine the way it is please leave a comment...Thanks for your support...

Saturday, September 15, 2012

i did a short video to announce the winner...didn't turn out like i wanted it to but it does the job...i know for next time not to use my phone and to go for the camera instead...so here is the big announcement...
DRUMROLL PLEASE...

in case you can't get to the video...the winner was picked by RANDOM GENERATOR...i had only 6 comments and the winner was #3 which happens to be SNOWBIRD...snowbird is my sister so congrats to RoRo... :)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Happy Thursday...Today I am posting a THEME FOR THURSDAY...If you are a past follower than you are familiar with my TFT's (theme for thursday)...I do the best I can to post each Thursday a new theme...REMEMBER...You don't have to be right to be entered into the GIVEAWAY...

The Details:
I post items from various Etsy Shops and YOU are to guess the theme of the items...Make a comment on my blog as to what you think my theme is...On Wednesday, the following week, I randomly pick a THEME FOR THURSDAY WINNER from all of the comments on the post...The winner will receive a surprise gift from my studio, something cool and handmade by me...

Now see if you can guess what my Theme for Thursday is for this week...LEAVE YOUR COMMENT BELOW...

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

oh, will i ever get over this hump...maybe i should call it a slump instead of a hump, or could it be a bump or maybe even a lump...whever it is...i must...i will...get through it...i don't like to write very personal thoughts on my blog but i have to at least put these words out into the universe...

Monday, August 27, 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

i've decided to enter another Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge...this week it's NO RULES...i like that!...so i wanted to make something cute and fun for a dear friend of mine...i was sitting in her family room and saw these adorable napkins...i asked if i could have one...she said, "eileen, what do you see"...she knows i'll create something with it...an adorable refrigerator magnet...

i was so excited when i heard that lori opened the party to all with 3 reveals...this time i made sure i signed up in time to join in the fun...

my partner, beth emery is a very talented jewelry artist...check out her blog and see her amazing creations...i love what she did with the soup ingredients i sent to her...

me, i'm a simple jewelry person...i follow the path of KEEP IT SIMPLE, but i sure do admire those who add chain, charms and all sorts of beautiful elements...here is the soup that beth sent me...

and now for the reveal of what i created with this lucious mix of beautiful gems and cute button closure and supple green suede cord...

i love the versitility of an adjustable slide necklace...sometimes i want to wear a choker and sometimes i like to wear a long necklace...i added this gorgeous turquoise gem to the green suede cord with the lovely oval connector...i adore how this necklace turned out...

my favorite has to be the bracelet...the handmade button closure is just too cute...i used the beautiful light blue stones with gorgeous i chunky amber beads...the combination is awesome...this creation is definitely my favorite of all 3...

like i mentioned before, i like my jewelry simple...i don't know what these stones are called but they are beautiful...the glow of greenish blue reflects so delicately...simple earrings that will go with ether the bracelet or necklace...i love them...

so there you have it...my bead soup all cooked up and ready to wear...check out the blogs below from this the 3rd Reveal of the Blog Soup Bead Party #6...

Monday, August 13, 2012

One of my long time Etsy friends is having a GIVEAWAY on her blog, Christie Cottage...One of the ways to enter is to blog about her giveaway and that is exactly what I am doing right now...I love the tote she is giving as the prize from SusiesImaginarium...Check out Susie's shop for yourself and come back here and comment one of your favorite items from Susie's shop...Here's the tote bag that Christie is giving away from SusiesImaginarium...

Sunday, August 12, 2012

i've been holding off on entering the Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week until today...i made a pretty refrigerator magnet for my sister who just moved into her new apartment home...Now, i can reveal my BINGO challenge piece...

i had chosen to do BLOOMS, FREE, RIBBON from the bingo card posted on the challenge page...Using craft paper scraps that i had laying around my paper pile i first made a cool layered flower...A technique I have used with fiber but never tried with paper...i like the way it looks...i then was thinking: dimension, 3D, pop...at that point my rolled rose was born...i added some cool washi tape, i stamped with distressed ink pads and glued everything down, sprayed with glitter (which you can't see in the pic) and viola...a beautiful frige magnet for my beautiful sister...

oh, and please take a minute to read the poem...my sister means the world to me...my life would not be complete without her in it...

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Happy Thursday evening...I know I'm a little late but i decided to post a THEME FOR THURSDAY...If you are a past follower than you are familiar with my TFT's (theme for thursday)...I try to post each Thursday a new theme...The theme is just in my head and may not be obvious to you...REMEMBER...You don't have to have the correct answer to be entered into the GIVEAWAY...The idea here is to expose fellow Etsy artisans and show off their talents...
HOW IT WORKS: On Thursday I post pictures from various Etsy Shops and YOU are to guess the Theme For Thursday...Make a comment as to what you think my Theme is...At the end of the week I randomly pick a THEME FOR THURSDAY WINNER...The winner will receive a surprise gift from my studio, something cool and handmade by me...

Enter your COMMENT or take a guess and you will be entered in my Giveaway...I'll post the Theme answer and WINNER next week...

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Hi Everyone...
This is a quick share and post to reveal my attempt at the Simon Says Stamp and Say PAINT challenge...Since meeting my friend Dale I've been intrigued by her mixed media talents and am broadening my horizons by giving these a go...I enjoy the simple size of the ATC...To me, it's manageable, quick and fun...So...here is my attempt at the PAINT challenge this week...

Most people reveal the products they use and how they go about creating their masterpieces...OK, here goes...This ATC is created on a thick piece of art paper...I sprayed with a glimmer spray, stamped block backgrounds, part of a word stamp that says "Love, the language of the heart"...As you can see i also glued some curly thread and attached one of my handmade paper beads...So, whatcha think...

Monday, August 6, 2012

When i saw this on the shelf at the library and read the little blurb that said...

Stop Being A Moron and StartGetting Skinny! If you can't take one more day of self-loathing, you're ready to hear the truth: You cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth every day and expect to lose weight.I knew I had to read this...Let me know if you read the book and if it motivated you into the new "skinny" you...Maybe it will be my kick in the butt to get me back on track...

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Believe it or not, these are my first attempts at by myself at what we now call "mixed media" art. They are considered ATC's and were so much fun to make...I was inspired when stumbling across the blog Simon Says Stamp & Show...I decided to enter into their challenge for a chance to win a $50 certificate to the shop...

This week's challenge is "What Do You Say"...You must use stamps in your mixed media creation...I can't even tell you the details of how I created these...I can say that I went through a drawer that I have many many stamps in and chose a pretty butterfly stamp...Grabed my tiny box of letter stamps and a pretty piece of scrapbook paper and started cutting, glueing and stamping...Viola..."WINGS"

Next I took some tissue paper that came in a gift I recently got and tore it into little pieces and decoupaged them onto some thick art paper a friend had given me...Found a fun O.P.I. add in a magazine lying next to me and cut out the words and flower...Glue and sparkle finished off the ATC...

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Thanks to everyone who participated in my THEME FOR THURSDAY Giveaway last week...I am aiming to post another tomorrow so I can keep the pace...The best part of my THEME FOR THURSDAY posts is to help promote other Etsy artisans and share all of the amazing talent in the handmade world of Etsy...

Using the Random Generator, #3 was picked from the 19 comments...

Chrissie Marshall from Krishenka on Etsy is the lucky winner...You must check out her Etsy shop, filled with beautiful vintage French button creations and accessories...Here is a sampling of what you will find in her shop...

Monday, July 30, 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Happy Saturday...What a night last night...I had the best time with my friend Dale from Daletta Designs...Not only do we both do we make our own creations but together we are making some pretty cool crafts...Laughter is something we both share each time we meet...Last night was no exception...OMG, i couldn't breath we were laughing so hard...Between the fantastic sushi dinner and chit chatting and showing Dale how to set up her new blog, What Drives Dale, we created this stunning brooch...This is a special custom design for one of Dale's customers...Here is a "sneek peek" at the unfinished brooch...

Pulling our energies together we are looking forward to creating some pretty fantastic pieces to share in her shop Daletta Designs...Stay tuned, there is much much more to come...

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Happy Thursday...Today I am posting a THEME FOR THURSDAY...If you are a past follower than you are familiar with my TFT's (theme for thursday)...I do the best I can to post each Thursday a new theme...REMEMBER...You don't have to be right to be entered into the GIVEAWAY...

Thursday's I post pictures from various Etsy Shops and YOU are to guess the Theme For Thursday...Make a comment as to what you think my Theme is...At the end of the month I randomly pick a THEME FOR THURSDAY WINNER...The winner will receive a surprise gift from my studio, something cool and handmade by me...Now see if you can guess what my Theme for Thursday is for this week...The winner will be chosen on 8/1...Good luck!...

Enter your COMMENT or take a guess and you will be entered in my Giveaway...I'll post the Theme answer and WINNER next week...

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Happiness...

"Tell everyone you know: "My happiness depends on me, so you're off the hook." And then demonstrate it. Be happy, no matter what they're doing. Practice feeling good, no matter what. And before you know it, you will not give anyone else responsibility for th e way you feel—and then, you'll love them all. Because the only reason you don't love them, is because you're using them as your excuse to not feel good."